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Fats Waller
Jazz music's first organist and one of the giants of piano jazz Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller was born on May 21, 1904 in Harlem into a musical family. His grandfather was an accomplished violinist and his mother was the church organist. His family had moved to New York City from Virginia in the late 1880s and his father was the pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. His first exposure of music was in the form of church hymns and organ music, an instrument that he was taught to play by his mother and the church musical director. The latter introduced him to the works of J.S. Bach which he played on and off for the rest of his life. When he was about 6 or 7, because he had expressed interest in playing the neighbor's piano, his mother hired a piano tutor for him. He learned how to read and write music from his piano teacher but he preferred to play "by ear."
At age 14 he won a talent contest playing Carolina Shout by James P. Johnson, a song he had learned by watching a pianola play it. That year he left school and worked at odd jobs for a year. In 1919 he got his first regular job when he was hired by a movie theatre to play organ accompaniment to the silent films they showed.
His father wanted him to follow in his footsteps and go into a career in religion but he wanted to pursue his passion for music so in 1920, after his mother died, because of the disagreements he had with his father over this issue he moved out of his family's house and in with the family of pianist Russell Brooks where he met James P. Johnson and Willie "The Lion" Smith two of the giants of the Harlem stride. James P. Johnson took the young Waller under his wing and taught him the stride piano style and advanced his musical education in general. Smith also influenced the young man by introducing him to the works of the impressionistic composers of the 19th century.
In 1921 he was hired to play musical accompaniment on the organ at another silent movie theatre at a weekly salary of $50. A year later he made his recording debut for the Okeh label with a 78 of two of his own compositions. In 1923 he recorded a number of piano rolls for the QRS company in addition to additional sides both as a leader and as an accompanist to blues singers.
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Striding Forward
by Patrick Burnette
Time, the bastards decided, for a historical podcast—and this time, the focus is on stride. Who started it? Who perfected it? Who blew it up? Who deconstructed it? Keep your left hand limber and the answers will follow. Pop matters includes a brief look at chanteuse of the day, Billie Eilish.Playlist Discussion of James P. Johnson's album The Original James P. Johnson 1942-1945 Piano Solos (Smithsonian Folkways) 3:25 Discussion of Fats Waller's album Complete Victor Piano Solos—Vol 1 ...
read moreThe Entertainers - Fats Waller (1929 - 1943)
by Russell Perry
By far the most commercially successful of the stride pianists, Fats Waller made his reputation (and his living) through comedy. “He wasn't witty, if that word is taken to imply a kind of humor too subtle to engender belly laughs—he was funny. He was also bigger than life, Rabelaisian in intake, energy, and output. His greatest joy was playing Bach on the organ, but he buttered his bread as a clown, complete with a mask as fixed as that of ...
read moreFats Waller by Maurice Waller & Anthony Calabrese
by C. Michael Bailey
Fats Waller Maurice Waller and Anthony Calabrese 256 Pages ISBN: # 978-1-5179-0391-6 University of Minnesota Press2017/1977 With regards to the jazz piano, who came before Art Tatum, Bud Powell, and Bill Evans. Well, it was James P. Johnson, Willie “The Lion" Smith and Thomas Fats Waller. The latter of these is celebrate with the republication of Maurice Waller and Anthony Calabrese's 1977 Fats Waller (Schirmer). A significant presence in the F. Scott Fitzgerald ...
read moreMy Fats Waller Obsession: Why Do We Collect Music?
by Marc Davis
The collector pauses to reflect. As a young pianist back in high school in the 1970s, I fell into the theater crowd. We put on shows and we went to shows on Broadway. One of my favorites was Ain't Misbehain', the tribute to pianist-composer Fats Waller. I was enthralled. This was music with verve and personality, and it swung like crazy. I bought the soundtrack record and wore it out. I bought the music book and taught myself ...
read more"Ain't Misbehavin'" by Fats Waller and Andy Razaf
by Tish Oney
Legendary pianist and songwriter, Thomas Wright “Fats" Waller (1904-1943), contributed several outstanding gems to what we consider today to be the Great American Songbook. These standards include “Honeysuckle Rose" and “Ain't Misbehavin'" (both from 1929), among others. Waller's all-too-brief career reflected the impressive output of a first-rate musician, and showed him to be a talented radio personality, prolific recording artist, and beloved performer both on live stages and in film. Well-versed in the stride piano style, thanks to his early ...
read moreFats Waller: Fats Waller on the Air 1938 Broadcasts
by Ken Dryden
Fats Waller was one of the top Harlem stride pianists as well as a prolific composer. Waller discographer Stephen Taylor uncovered 15 unreleased tracks in his quest to remaster several of Waller's 1938 broadcasts for this compilation. Three separate broadcasts are heard in complete form. The first is a studio session featuring Fats Waller and His Rhythm. Even without an audience, Waller acts as if he is in a nightclub, with his customary ad lib commentary. Unlike ...
read moreFats Waller: If You Got To Ask, You Ain't Got It!
by Jim Santella
Fats Waller If You Got To Ask, You Ain't Got It! Bluebird Jazz 2006
His career was short, but he left behind the kind of memories that will never fade. Fats Waller had it all: personality, keyboard talent, musical ear, and an intuitive feel for communicating with an audience. He was funny. He was unique. And yet, he was musically superior.
Waller died of pneumonia in 1943 at the age of 39. ...
read moreJazz Musician of the Day: Fats Waller
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Fats Waller's birthday today!
Jazz music's first organist and one of the giants of piano jazz Thomas Wright “Fats" Waller was born on May 21, 1904 in Harlem into a musical family. His grandfather was an accomplished violinist and his mother was the church organist. His family had moved to New York City from Virginia in the late 1880s and his father was the pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. His first exposure ...
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See The Tony Award-Winning Jazz Musical Ain't Misbehavin'
Source:
Greater Boston Stage Company
Greater Boston Stage Company is pleased to present “Ain’t Misbehavin’" directed and co-choreographed by Maurice Emmanuel Parent. Produced by The Nora at Central Square Theatre, The Front Porch Arts Collective, and Greater Boston Stage Company. Named after the 1929 Thomas “Fats” Waller song, “Ain’t Misbehavin’" is a musical revue tribute to the black musicians of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and ‘30s. Performances run June 9-26, 2022. The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s comes to life in ...
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Jazz Musician of the Day: Fats Waller
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Fats Waller's birthday today!
Jazz music's first organist and one of the giants of piano jazz Thomas Wright “Fats" Waller was born on May 21, 1904 in Harlem into a musical family. His grandfather was an accomplished violinist and his mother was the church organist. His family had moved to New York City from Virginia in the late 1880s and his father was the pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. His first exposure ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Fats Waller
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Fats Waller's birthday today!
Jazz music's first organist and one of the giants of piano jazz Thomas Wright “Fats" Waller was born on May 21, 1904 in Harlem into a musical family. His grandfather was an accomplished violinist and his mother was the church organist. His family had moved to New York City from Virginia in the late 1880s and his father was the pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. His first exposure ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Fats Waller
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Fats Waller's birthday today!
Jazz music's first organist and one of the giants of piano jazz Thomas Wright “Fats" Waller was born on May 21, 1904 in Harlem into a musical family. His grandfather was an accomplished violinist and his mother was the church organist. His family had moved to New York City from Virginia in the late 1880s and his father was the pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. His first exposure ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Fats Waller
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Fats Waller's birthday today!
Jazz music\'s first organist and one of the giants of piano jazz Thomas Wright “Fats" Waller was born on May 21, 1904 in Harlem into a musical family. His grandfather was an accomplished violinist and his mother was the church organist. His family had moved to New York City from Virginia in the late 1880s and his father was the pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem... Read more.
Place ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Fats Waller
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Fats Waller's birthday today!
Jazz music\'s first organist and one of the giants of piano jazz Thomas Wright “Fats" Waller was born on May 21, 1904 in Harlem into a musical family. His grandfather was an accomplished violinist and his mother was the church organist. His family had moved to New York City from Virginia in the late 1880s and his father was the pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem... Read more.
Place ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Fats Waller
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Fats Waller's birthday today!
Jazz music\'s first organist and one of the giants of piano jazz Thomas Wright “Fats" Waller was born on May 21, 1904 in Harlem into a musical family. His grandfather was an accomplished violinist and his mother was the church organist. His family had moved to New York City from Virginia in the late 1880s and his father was the pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem... Read more.
Place ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Fats Waller
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Fats Waller's birthday today! Jazz music\'s first organist and one of the giants of piano jazz Thomas Wright “Fats" Waller was born on May 21, 1904 in Harlem into a musical family. His grandfather was an accomplished violinist and his mother was the church organist. His family had moved to New York City from Virginia in the late 1880s and his father was the pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem... Read more. Place ...
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Fats Waller
Instrument: Piano
Born: May 21, 1904
Died: December 15, 1943
